Experts fear the new system’s “lack of security” has the
capability to cause carnage around the UK, especially if they are
hacked by the wrong people.

Professor David Stupple, an internet security expert from City
University, told the BBC he predicts the new system will cause a
“nasty accident” involving terrorists as they can
“easily expose the new mainframe.”

“It’s the clever malware that actually alters the way the
train will respond,” he added.

The malware could perhaps “tell the system the train is
slowing down, when it’s speeding up,” he told the
broadcaster.

However, Stupple says the government “aren’t complacent”
as they are completely aware of the dangers of the trails.
“They are worried about it,” he added.

Stupple highlights the government’s awareness of the dangers, and
claims they are working on measures to prevent an attack
occurring. “Safeguards are going in, in secret,” he
said.

However, despite the government’s efforts to prevent hacks, it is
still possible for terrorists to “get around them,” he
added.

Network Rail, which is in charge of the train line upgrade,
expects it to be fully operational by the 2020s. It confirms it
has acknowledged the potential threat.

A spokesperson for National Rail told the BBC they know the risk
of a cyber-attack “will increase as we continue to roll out
technology across the network.”

The spokesperson says National Rail will “work closely with
the government, the security services, our partners and suppliers
in the rail industry and external cyber-security specialists to
understand the threat to our systems and make sure we have the
right controls in place.”